Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"We follow the scientists around and look over their shoulders."
- Larry Niven
 |
| Penfield Wave Transmitter | ||
| A device that directs some sort of energy wave into a person's brain, allowing them to experience a chosen (dialed) mood. |
This device is the functional part of a mood organ. You could probably find the transmitter you needed at a good hobbyshop; the problem is figuring out how to tune in on the emotional brain.
| Setting down his weapons kit he fumbled it open, got out a nondirectional Penfield wave transmitter; he punched the key for catelepsy, himself protected against the mood emanation by means of a counterwave broadcast through the transmitter's metal hull directed to him alone. |
| Technovelgy from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?,
by Philip K. Dick. Published by Doubleday in 1968 Additional resources -
|
This makes for a new kind of non-lethal weapon. You could, of course, project other moods. For example, you could project Obedience to Lawful Authority, Sheeplike Subservience, or even Fawning Admiration of Government Functionaries. According to the novel, the Penfield wave transmitter is capable of generating very specific emotional responses.
The Penfield Wave Transmitter was almost certainly named after Wilder Penfield. He is credited with first establishing (in 1957) that a map of the human body exists in the brain; in other words, specific areas of the cortex process information from different body areas.
Another technovelgy item, the tasp from Larry Niven's Ringworld, a handheld device that causes the affected person to enter a state of ecstatic pure pleasure, may also be of interest. Specialized, but then, it may produce the one state that everyone is guaranteed to like.
Compare to the peeper from Shadow World (1957) by Clifford Simak.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 2 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
More Ideas
and Technology by Philip K. Dick
Tech news articles related to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Tech news articles related to works by Philip K. Dick
| Flimmer Navy Drone Flies And Swims |
| Indian Court Says Brain Scan Proves Murder |
| Background Draw-a-Secret (BDAS) Makes Graphical Passwords |
| ID-U Biometrics Eye Tracking Signature |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
